19/07 The Front Pages

Willie O’Dea is back in the political limelight after the revelation that he is set to be returned to the Fianna Fail front bench. Let's get to know him some more.

By William Nestor

The Limerick man - with a moustache that has taken decades to perfect - has often found himself at the forefront of the Irish media, albeit in unflattering circumstances.

O’Dea resigned as defence minister last year over the controversy surrounding allegations made about Sinn Féin councillor Maurice Quinlivan, but Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is poised to return him to the front bench in the belief that he can play a leading role in the forthcoming election campaign.

O’Dea swore a false affidavit denying making allegations about Quinlivan and eventually paid a large sum in damages to the Sinn Féin councilor.

In the midst of the row, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny accused O’Dea of ‘perjury’, something which was denied by O’Dea, who escaped prosecution over the matter.

Anyway, let’s look at five things you may not already know about Willie, one of which is a porky-pie.

1. Willie gets his moustache professionally treated on a weekly basis*

The man doesn’t just whip a comb and clippers from his back pocket, oh no. Willie shows up at his local beauty salon, Prim N' Proper, every Thursday for a trim and treatment. His tickler has become as infamous as the time he posed for photographers aiming a gun at the camera while serving as defence minister.

2. Willie is a huge Rubberbandits fan

One of the best pieces of live radio in 2010, Willie went on air on the Joe Duffy Show to voice his support for Limerick comedy duo Rubberbandits, who came in for criticism in many quarters for their depiction of drug use in Limerick in their hit single, ‘Horse Outside’. Any other politician would be lambasted for such a move. But no, not our Willie. He managed to pull it off after one of the Rubberbandits joined the debate and made Willie sound like a hero.

Willie was flattered by the Rubberbandits tribute song to their local politician, 'Song for Willie O'Dea':

 

3. Willie was a gang member

Not in the sense we have all become accustomed to in recent times with certain areas of Limerick city, but Willie was in fact a member of the Gang of 22. Back in the 1980s he was one of main opposers of Charlie Haughey’s leadership.

The name was a pun on the Gang of Four, a group of Communist leaders in the People's Republic of China who were imprisoned after the death of Mao Zedong.

4. Willie grappled with a constituent in a pub

He was never charged for defending himself from Matt Larkin in the Bank Bar on O’Connell Street in Limerick, but Willie certainly showed he was no pushover. Larkin was convicted of making a false statement in which he claimed Wille punched “three or four times” in the stomach. He won his appeal but the judge said O’Dea was acting in self-defence justifiably.

5. Willie is so popular in Limerick you can buy his mask

It’s made up of a massive tache, furry eyebrows and a pair of glasses. Outrageously good-looking.

*Denotes the porky-pie